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Gorsuch heads for confirmation as Senate tears up own rules

Gorsuch heads for confirmation as Senate tears up own rules

Carrie Doyle | April 11, 2017, 2:52

Gorsuch heads for confirmation as Senate tears up own rules

On Thursday, they successfully filibustered Gorsuch using a 60-vote cloture rule that prompted Republicans to undo the threshold, upending long-standing Senate tradition. "No. 2, it's genius, in that order, because he knew how much criticism he would get", said Sen.

McConnell himself told reporters Friday that "the most consequential decision I've ever been involved in was the decision to let the president being elected a year ago pick the Supreme Court nominee".

"A lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court should be done in a bipartisan way, but unfortunately Mitch McConnell chose to do it in an extremely partisan manner", Sanders said Thursday. Trump added later that Gorsuch "will serve the American people with distinction as he continues to faithfully and vigorously defend our Constitution". We must fight back, and we must tell senators that they can not stand complacentnow that Trump and McConnell have undermined Senate rules to win a lifetime appointment for their nominee, Neil Gorsuch.

After voting to change the rules by which Supreme Court justices are confirmed earlier this week, the Senate has confirmed Judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court, The New York Times confirmed.

The White House has said it expects Gorsuch could be sworn in as soon as Monday. "No senator would like to see that happen, so let's find a way to further protect the 60-vote rule for legislation".

One Wisconsin Now executive director Scot Ross: "It appears the only place theft is not a crime is in Ron Johnson's Republican-controlled U.S. Senate". Gorsuch also attracted support from three moderate Democrats reigning from states Trump won last November: Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota and Joe Donnelly of Indiana. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) did not vote. McConnell also supported Trump's airstrike on Syria.

Mr Gorsuch will officially be a member of the court once he takes the two oaths. The next oral argument cycle begins April 17, and Gorsuch will have to prepare for that.

Democrats used the "nuclear option" in 2013 to overturn Republican filibusters against executive branch and judicial nominees for lower courts.

In other words, Gorsuch will not be an activist judge who will legislate from the bench, such as when the court of John Roberts mandated same-sex marriage instead of leaving it up to the decision of the 50 states of the Union, and imposed universal healthcare by invoking taxation powers.

But with Gorsuch's confirmation, Trump has secured a major win for Republicans, retaining the conservative 5-4 tilt that existed on the Supreme Court with Scalia.